Last September 28 th,at the 8th Right to Know International Day, was held the First Transparency Fair, in Mexico City’s Central Plaza (the Zocalo). This event was a major gathering, coordinated by Mexico City’s Access to Information Institute, Mexico City’s Interior Ministry and Cultura Ecológica, on behalf of the Colectivo por la Transparencia and the Access Initiative México.

The Fair was inagurated by Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, and also by representatives of civil society organisations and local and federal Access to Information Authorities. It was a pioneer public event based on the conceptual frame of the “active or proactive transparency” which broadly speaking, is to take transparency a step further of its laws and intitutions to reach out to its main social beneficiaries and towards the acomplishment of its social function.

The Fair promoted the right of the individuals to access the information held by governments and other public bodies about their policies, procedures and financial spending. More than 70 public and social institutions participated in the Fair, providing information about its main activities and programs, and the mechanisms available to request information.

There were several ludic activities as well, such as musical groups, dance shows and theatre plays promoting the Access to Information Right. Also, the Health Local Ministry offered free consulting, among other activities.

The Fair was visited by 10, 000 people aproximately, and its expected that this event will be repeated next year.